Machinery for making fences



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R. E. 8v J. B. MORRIS.

MACHINERY POR MAKING PENGBS.

No. 290,699. Patented Dec. 25,1883.

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`(No Model.) 4 Sheets- Sheet 2. R. E. 8v J. B. MORRIS.

MACHINERY FOR MAKING PENGES.

No. 299,699I Patented D90. 25, 198s.

til/ear dfi-orne? A(No Modei.) 4 sheets-sheet 3. R. E. & J. B. MORRIS.

MACHINERY FOR MAKING FENGES.

No. 290,699. Patented Deo. 25, 1883.

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MACHINERY POR MAKING PENGES. Y

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, Darren STATES:

p-TENT Orriol@ lROBERT E. MORRIS AND JOHN B.;MORRIS, OF WICHITA, KANSAS.

MACHINERY FOR MAKING FENOES.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,699, dated December 25, 1883.

Application filed September 14, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that we, ROBERT E. MORRIS and JOHN B. MORRIS, citizens of the United States, residing at Wichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machinery for` Making Fences, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class of fencemachines wherein wooden or other palings are united by wires to form a continuous fence or web; and it consists in the several parts and combination ofparts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. l

Figure l is a top plan view of the machine; Fig. 2, a transverse section through line m m.- Figs. 3, 4, 4., and 5 illustrate certain details of the structure. Fig. 6 illustrates a longitudinal vertical section of the machine.

All the operating devices are mounted upon a main frame, A, and may be divided for convenience of description into the mechanism for carrying and twisting the wires, the mechanism for adjusting, holding, and pressing the palings prior to and during the process of ap-` plying the wire, and the mechanism for feeding and reeling the completed fence.

rlhe twisting-heads B are each provided with two longitudinal conical perforations for guid-V ing and straightening the wire as it is drawn from the reels C. These reels C are mounted upon the same shaft`or spindle D that carries the twisting-head B, and revolve therewith. The reels or spools C are made fast to a spindle, d, carrying a spur-wheel, c, and journaled in a frame, f, attached to the spindle D. A spring, g, fastened at one' end to the frame f, bears with its other end upon the side or edge of the spool or reel, and operates by friction to determine the tension of the `wire and to prevent the reel running ahead as the wire is drawn off. A set-screw (shown in the drawings) is provided for adjusting the tension of Vlien the supply of wire constead of removing them from the machine and rewinding or replacing by fresh spools, they are rewound while in place. This is effected by. means of the shaft j and pinion i, rotated 5o by a crank or otherwise, and applied tothe The supports for the shaft j are provided with Vtwo or more sets of bearings, in either of which and a pivoted cap-piece arranged to be swung over it, and thus retain the shaft in position.

The several spindles or shafts D are geared together or connected by sprocket and chain gearing, so that when one is rotated by a crank `or otherwise they shall all revolve together. Chain-gearing is preferable, in that the lateral adj nstmcnt ofthe spindles maybe compensated for by the addition or removal of one or more of the links. The front and rear bearings for the spindles D are arranged for lateral adjustment, so that the position which the wires are to occupy on the palings may be regulated and determined. With this end in view, the bearing-blocks Z lare mounted upon the cross-rails Z Z, and provided with clamping-screws Z Z7, .or other well-known devices for holding them in position when once adjusted.

Vith mechanism such as above described, two or more double strands of wire can read` ily be applied to the palings or bars in the following manner: A paling or bar being held in front and across the ends ofthe several twisting-heads, the two wires carried thereby are passed one above and the other beneath the paling and fastened or held together by a twist or otherwise. The heads are then caused to revolve simultaneously, thus twisting the two wires together for any suitable length, the paling being drawn away if the twist is to be a long one. Another paling is then inserted between the wires, between the heads and the twisted portion already formed, and the heads are again caused to revolve in the same or an opposite direction, the same operations being repeated for each additional paling, the wires. on the spools or reelsbeing renewed as occasion requires.

Themechanism employed for holding and positioning the Ypalings during the operation' `gear on the spindle of any one of the spools. l

of twisting the wires is as follows: Located in front of `the twisting-heads, and on a crossbar, a, are two or more pivoted gages, b, against which the palings are drawn after the first twist has been made. The gages are pivoted in or carried by frames sliding in ways on the cross-bar a, and their position is determined by set-screws c. The gages theml selves are arranged to project nominally above the face of the bar a, and they are so pivoted and connected that they may be simultaneously withdrawn from in front of the paling to allow the same to be drawn forward. "This is effected by means of a foot-lever, a, yoke ed, and connections a5. A. spring or counterweight serves to keep the foot-lever up and the gages projecting.

Between the gages b and the twisting-heads project two bars, c, mounted upon a shaft, c", and operated by a foot-lever, c, through connections c c7. These bars c3 co-operate with the gages to determine the position of each new paling introduced with reference to the one previously fastened and to the twistingheads. After the wires have been twisted upon a paling, it is drawn forward against the gages, a new paling is then introduced between the wires and the foot-lcv er c5 depressed, causing the bars c3 to press the paling against the twisted wires and in position while the next twist is being completed. The gages being properly adjusted and the bars c3 being positively and uniformly pressed against each new paling, the parallelism of the fence-pal ings forming the fence is assured. Y

In order to more securely fasten the palings between the wires, we have added a hammer or weighted bar, J, which is so arranged that it will drop or press upon the paling, and thus press 'the surrounding wires against or into the surface of the wood. The hammer J is located above the cross-bar a, and is hung upon two pivoted bars, e2, adjustable vertically and longitudinally. Upon the cross-bar a rest the anvil-blocks a, which are composed of iron or other suitable material, and act as a bed or anvil upon which the paling rests, while the hammer J operates in conjunction therewith to press the wire into the paling. Rubber or spring cushions may be interposed between the bars and hammer-head, to permit the latter to accommodate itself to inequalities in the size and shape of the palings. The hammer is raised by achain or belt connected at one end to a drum, K, and at the othervto a cross-bar uniting the extremities of the levers e2,- or it may be raised or lowered, if desired, by a hand or foot lever properly connected. Vhere it is desired to make the hammer automatic in its operation, the drum K, to which the strap or chain k2 is attached, is mounted loosely upon a shaft, k3. This lifting-drum is connected and released at predetermined intervals, with a wheel or disk, L, connected by a chain-belt or other gearing with a wheel, Z, on one of the spindles D.

The drum K is provided on one side with a notched or perforated disk, c, with which a dog, Z2, carried by the wheel L, engages. The dog Z2 is provided with a iiange, Z3, and is pressed forward into engagement with the notched disk by the spring-flange Z. A stationary cam or incline, Z, is fastened to the frame, and so arranged that when the wheel L is revolved it will bear against the flange Z on the dog Z2 and withdraw the latter from engagement with the notched disk. The relative size and arrangement of the gears and cam Z5 are such that the hammer will be raised and dropped once or more during the twisting operation, and it may serve as means for indicating the number or sufficiency of the twists given to the wire.

It is obvious that rollers might be substituted for the hammer to perform the pressing operation; but we prefer the latter as in our judgment better suited for the purpose.

The fence or web as it is formed may be drawn from the machine by hand or otherwise.- A mechanism found suitable and well adapted for performing this operation is shown in the drawings. It consists of a shaft or reel, M, hung in inclined open bearings m in front of the cross-bar a. The end of the fence or web as it comes'from the machine is wrapped around this shaft M, which latter is arranged to be rotated, when necessary, by means of a hand or other lever, o1, pivoted to the side of the machine, and connected, through lever n and link n, with the ratchet n, which lat- Yter engages with the toothed wheel ai. fastened to the end of the shaft M. The ratchet n3 is pivoted to the link or plate a5, tting loosely on the shaft M, and is held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel a" by a spring, a6, as shown. A pawl, nl, is arranged to prevent back motion.

Beneath the shaft M is a table, N, supported at one side by legs resting upon the iioor, and at the other by a support, or, sliding in ways attached to the main frame. The inner edge of the table is lower than the outer, to permit the fence to be wound upon the shaft. Vhen a sufcient quantity has been wound upon the shaft, the lever a9, connected to the support ns, is depressed, and the roll of fence is lifted up until the shaft is removed from its bearings, when the whole is pushed back and the shaft withdrawn from the roll and replaced in the machine.

Having fully described our invention, what we desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is l. In combination with the twistingheads, two or more spools or reels mounted upon the same spindle, and provided with gear-wheels and means for rotating them, whereby they may be refilled without removal from the machine, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the reels or spools mounted upon rotating spindles and provided with pinions, the counter-shaft carrying the IOO IIO

adjustable pivoted gages and oscillating levers for positioning the palings with twisting mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes` set forth. x 6. In combination with the pivoted gages,x

the hammer for pressing the loops upon thet-` palings, substantially as and for the purposey specified.

7. KIn combination with the pivoted gages, oscillating levers, and twisting mechanism, the hammer for pressing the loops formed around the palings, and connected means for operating the several devices, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a fence-machine, and in combination with the hammer, the chain and clutch arranged to raise and release the hammer at predetermined intervals, substantially as described. l

9. In combination with the rotating spindle carrying the twisting-head, the clutch mechanism for operating the hammer at predetermined intervals, as and for the purpose specied.

10. In combination with the winding-shaft and its open bearings, the vertically-adjustable table for raising and supporting the roll, substantially as described.

11. In combination with the cross-bar a, the pivoted gages b, mounted in adjustable slides, and means for withdrawing the gages from the path of the material as it is drawn from the machine, substantially as described.

12. The hammer J, supported on levers above the cross-bar a and operated intermittingly by the clutch mechanism, as described.

13. In a fence-machine, and in combination with the hammer, the rotating disk L, geared to the spindle D, and carrying a dog for engagement with the notched wheel in the drum K, the cam Z5, located in the path of the dog, and arranged to withdraw the latter at predetermined intervals and release the drum, sub-` stantially as and for the purpose specified. D 14. The removable shaft j, carrying a pinion for engagement with the pinion on the nonni-rr n. Mouais. JOHN B. Mouais.

lVitnesses:

M. P. GALLAN, E. S. BLAcKwooD. 

